Printing-plate base.



G. S. MILLS.

PRINTING PLATE BASE.

APPLIOATION FILED 1111.26, 1912.

Patented July 9, 1912.

CHARLES S. MILLS, 0F IVIIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK.

PRINTING-PLATE BASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1912.

Application led January 26, 1912. Serial No. 673,624.

erally 11 point, while the latter are 16 gage.-

Thus in justifying these two different kinds of plates, the former requires a thinner block than the latter, the requirement being that the combined thickness of the thick plate and its block is equal to the combined thickness of the thin plate and its block.

By my invention, one and the same supporting means will justify both kinds of plates, so that multiplicity of parts is obviated and simplicity in manipulation is insured.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a plan of a base embodying my invention showing it applied toarelatively thin plate; Fig. 2 an end view thereof; Fig. 3 a cross section through a single supporting block showing a superposed relatively thin plate; y

Fig. 4 a similar view showing a superposed relatively thick plate; Fig. 5 a perspective view of the block; Fig. 6 a similar view of one of the end clamps; Fig. 7 an end view of a pair of longitudinally alined blocks with an interposed filler, and Fig. 8 a perspective view of the filler.

The supporting block 10 is adapted to support either a relatively thin printing plate 11, such as an etched plate or a relatively thick printing plate 12, such for instance as an electrotype plate, both plates being justified and then set in a chase ready for stereotyping. Block 10 is of parallelopipedal shape with rectangular base and its length corresponds substantially to the width of a column. The height of the block is greater than its width, the difference between height and width being equal to the difference between the thicknesses of plates 11, 12. That is to say the thickness of thin plate 11 plus height m of block 10 is equal to the thickness 'of thick plate 12 plus width y of the block. Thus if plate 11 is to be justified block Al0 is placed upon its side y as a base (Fig. 3) while when plate 12 is to be justified the block is placed upon its side m (Fig. 4). one and the same block is adapted to support both kinds of plates at a common level, so that the use of differently sized blocks for plates of different thickness is entirely obviated. Plates 11, 12 aregenerally of'a length to extend over a number of blocks 10 as illustrated in Figs. l and 2. The ends ofthe plates are beveled as at 13, such beveled ends being adapted to engage clamps 14, removably fitted to the flanking blocks l0. Each clamp 14 comprises a flat plate-like lower section 14a which corresponds in height substantially to the width y of block 10, and of a beveled flange 14h, the height of which is nearly equal to that of thick plate 12.

Means are provided for removably attaching clamp 14 to either the side or y of block 10. These means consist of a pair of pins 15 projecting from one face of clamp section 14a and adapted to engage either of a pair of apertures 16 or 17 formed in two adjoining sides m and y of block 10. When a thick plate is to bejustied, clamp 14 is attached to side y (Fig. 4) while when a thin plate is to be justified the clamp is attached to side al (Fig. 3). It will be seen that in the latter case, the lower portion of flange 14b is overlapped by the upper section of side a, so that the height of the protruding upper portion of flange 14b corresponds almost to the thickness of plate 11. It is preferred to form the apertures 16, 17 in all of the blocks 10, so that either one of said blocks is adapted for use as a flanking block.

Plates 11, 12 are frequently of a width to extend over two or more columns, in which case a number of blocks 10, must be arranged end to end in longitudinal alinement (Fig. 7). Here it is necessary to interpose between eaoh pair of adjoining blocks, a filler to blank the column. This filler consists of a plate 18 corresponding in height and length to the height vandwidth of block 10. To sustain the ller in position, it is provided with a laterally extending pin 19 adapted to removably engage an aperture 2O formed in the end of block 10.

' It will be seen that by the invention described, ready means are provided for justifying variously dimensioned printing plates within the chase, so that the use of a multi- It will thus be seen thatplicity of dierently shaped supporting blocks is entirely obviated. As the same end clamps and the same fillers may also be used for differently dimensioned plates, a large saving in working equipment is effected, the necessity of making different selections for different plates is avoided, and simplicity in manipulation is insured.

I claim:

1. A support for printing plates of different thicknesses, comprising a block of greater height than width, an end clamp, and means for removably securing said clamp to either of two adjoining sides of said block.

2. A support for printing plates of different thicknesses, comprising a block of greater height than width, and having apertures in two adjoining sides, and an end clamp having pins adapted to engage said apertures.

3. A support for printing plates of different thicknesses comprising a block of greater height than Width, a ianged end clamp of a height nearly equal to the aggregate Width of the block and the thickness of a relatively thick plate, and means for removably securing said clamp to either of two adjoining sides of the block.

4. A support for printing plates of different thicknesses comprising a block of greater height than Width, a ller corresponding in height and length to the height and width of the block and adapted to be interposed between the ends of a pair of said blocks, and means for removably securing said filler to one of said blocks.

i CHARLES S. MILLS.

Witnesses:

M. M. DANIELs, F. C. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

